MOUNTAIN FL0\\1:RS ^^ 



WHITE EVERLASTING 



.1)1 ten nana i-accniosa. L'oniposite Faniilv 



Freely surculose by lout;, slender, sparsely-leafy stolons, li,Lchtly woollv. 

 Stems: bearing numerous racemosely-disposed heads. Leaves: broadlv 

 oval, acute at each end, densely tomentose beneath, green and glabrous 

 above; involucre campanulate ; bracts green. Flowers: staminate and 

 pistillate heads white-tipped. 



Every traveller will recognize the Everlastings at a glance, 

 with their dry, crackling little flowers and partially, if not 

 entirely, silky whitish leaves ; the only difficiilty lies in decid- 

 ing to what species any particular plant belongs. 



The easiest way to distinguish the White Everlasting is by 

 the loose separate fashion in which its flower-heads grow, 

 just a few on each little stalk and none of them bunched 

 together ; whereas the A. Howcllii, or Mouse-ear Everlasting, 

 has very closely clustered flower-heads and much more silky 

 leaves. The leaves of both these plants are woollv and white 

 underneath and smooth and green on the top. The fertile 

 plants are taller than the sterile plants, and the little heads 

 of fertile florets are set in green cups, their snow-white silkv 

 tufts gleaming in the sunshine, while the staminate florets 

 have rounder, whiter scales. 



A. parvifolia, or Mountain Everlasting, has leaxes that are 

 white and woolly on both sides, and its florets are perfectl\- 

 round in shape. 



Eor A. parvifolia var. rosea see the Fink to Red Section. 



A. lajiata, or Alpine Everlasting, is a dwarf sj)ccies growing 

 close to perpetual snow, and is found at the great altitude of 

 8000 feet. It has very white and wooll\- stalks and main tin\- 

 leaves that are white and woollv also. 



This ])lant somewhat resembles the luiilicciss of the Alj)s, 

 and is the nearest approach to that famous flower to be found 

 on this continent. The name Aiitouiariti refers to the long 

 brown anthers, which resemble the amenna- of some insect. 



